My wife and I are now holidaying in our second son's house in Kuala Rompin, some 350 km from our house.  My youngest son, reza, his wife and 3 children are also with us on this trip. My son is driving the car. Thank goodness, as it would be too taxing for me to drive that distance.

Kuala Rompin is a small town on the east coast. I like the quite atmosphere and the serenity of this place. It''s an ideal place to recuperate and rest. One can really relax here - its'' so peaceful.   I am reminded ot this piece of gem:  What is this life, full of care, one has no time to stand and stare."

As a septuagenarian, I ask for nothing more.

My wife and I left the house at 6.00 am this morning to go to KL, my son's house about 35 km from our house.  It''s still quite dark and we have to go through the city of KL and hopefully there is no traffic jam as yet. We arrived at my son's house around 6.55 a.m and what a relief.  We came over at the request of my son who needs his mothers help in looking after his 5 year old son while he and his wife will be at work.
All this while, his wife's sister was doing the caring of the child but now she has gone back to her hometown to get married. So we are called upon to help out. Yes, grandparents can be handy at times. We don't mind as we have the time and the energy.  It''s great to be useful.  And we can only be useful if we are healthy.

My wife went for a routine medical check-up this morning. Her blood pressure was checked and it was normal. But her bodyweight tends towards obesity.  So the dietician in the clinic gave her a number of tips on healthy diet.
She was told to reduce food with lots of fat content, such as meat etc. She was also advised to eat more fruits and vegetables and to do at least half an hour of physical exercise three times a week.
I intormed that I totally agree with what she is being advised to abide and follow the recommendation of the dietician.
Yes, we must really work hard on taking care of our health, with food and exercise as mandatory.
Nothing comes easy in life and we must be very vigilant to all the things that pertain to healthy living. It''s nice to be healthy. When one is healthy, one enjoys life, and one can be helpful to the family, to the children and in our life now, towards our grandchildren.

This country is now enveloped in a phenomena known as haze - a very smoky and irritating atmosphere. This is as a result of massive burn and slash the forests and trees for replanting in a neighbouring country and the wind is blowing the haze and dust to our place and now we are suffering.  Because the condition is unhealthy, many schools are closed.
As a result of this enforced ""enforced stay indoors"" situation, the grandchildren suffers the worst as they can't go out and play in the children's playground. Very sad situation this.
Al these happenings are as a result of men's greed and inconsideration.

Professor A.C. Grayling recently wrote:
""To read is to fly; it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and fruits of many inquiries.

....if we honor the obligation we have to ourselves to  develop, to the best of our ability, the constellation of interests and passions and talents that we have - even if we don't succeed, never win a gold medal, never get knighted, never get published - that in itself is the good life.''

What a truism.  I liked it. I feel inspired on reading it.

To persevere!  Nothing comes easy in life!  You have to work hard for your education; you have to work hard for your career; you have to work hard for your health!  All these require intense effort.  But I believe, that is what it should be. And I am up to it.

I am feeling so much better now - the low back pain has almost disappeared.  What a relief. It''s a good feeling to be well again. My grandchildren are clamouring to go to the playing field as they are bored staying at home. This enforced ''stay at home'' was as a result of the weather condition when we are suffering from the phenomena of the ''haze.- a very smoky and dusty condition as a result of widespread forest burning in neighbouring country - Indonesia. My three grandchildren, who are staying with me, are very active and to keep a good watch on them as they play about in the playing field is quite a task, and being healthy on my part is a must. Their safety is my particular concern. Anyway,  I am very happy to see them happy and enjoying themselves.

This little piece of news attracts me: Johor princess quits social media over tudung comments.
She was much saddened when severely criticized for not wearing the head scarf or tudung. She said: I am happy to live in her own little bubble.
Yes, I agree with you, princess. Simply ignore those narrow-minded people.
Another very interesting comments: Prime Minister of Malaysia categorically stated: Stand up for true Islam and denounce the false representation of the religion by the violent extremist group Islamic State (IS). I fully agree with this call. Its timely.

For the last two days I have been having a quite severe pain in my lower back. From my standing position, if I bend down, I can feel the pain in my lower back. I think it's muscular pain. Anyway I feel very uncomfortable. I hope this pain will go away in a day or two. Otherwise I have to go for a medical check-up.
In today's news, the Penang Muslim religious council has decided to tone down their mosque loudspeakers. Only the ''azan'' (call to pray) will be broadcast on the loudspeaker.
Prior to  this, the reading of the Koran was also broadcast on the loudspeaker. This causes some people to complain as being too noisy and cause discomfort. Hence the above decision.
I think this is a good move. One must be considerate towards others. Once religious practice should not disturb or cause discomfort to others.

""Have inte-faith talks, Asean ministers urged"" is the heading of an article in the newspaper today.
The International Forum on Buddhist-Muslim Relations (BMF) is urging Asean ministers to have inter-faith dialogue to defeat religious extremism.
I like the above article. It''s timely. It continues:

The Buddhist and Muslim population make up about 80% of the Asean community and conflicts fuelled by extremism and radicalism could potentially de-stabilize the entire Asean community,"" he said.
""Therefore, we want to reaffirm that Buddhist and Islam are religions of peace, mercy and compassion committed to justice for all humankind. For this reason, we pledge to counter extremist religious interpretations and work towards peace and harmony.""
I have seen and read many of these exhortations towards peace and harmony. But the reality is, in the political scenario tolday, many statements are being uttered which I believe are provocative.

I have very low opinions of politicians: they have ulterior motives, and all this is because of power.

Stay heart-healthy: World Heart Day (Sept 29).  This year's theme is ""Creating Heart-healthy Environments"".  I like this article in the newspaper today. The paper continues:
Be active every  day in as many ways as you can.
Being active in small ways throughout the day is likely to provide health benefits to almost everyone, no matter what age, body weight, health condition or disability.
To make a habit out of increasing activity in your day, you can:
Walk or cycle instead of using the car
Park further away from your destination and walk the rest of the way
Take the stairs instead of the lift
Walk rather  rest on escalators or travelators
Walk in the garden
Play with children in an active way
Walk or play with pets
Challenge family, friends and work colleagues to be active with you.
I like all the above suggestions and its worth repeating.

More than 700 pilgrims died in a stampede in Mecca while doing the Haj ritual.  This is tragic. It''s human folly.  In their eagerness to perform their religious ritual they risk death and injury by ignoring safety rules and become very inconsiderate.

From my observation, I find very religious people, those who flaunt their religious piety by way of dress or manner of speaking, usually regard themselves to be always right and look with disdain towards others whom they regard as less religious.  This self-righteous attitude, to me, is obnoxious, repulsive even. Former Prime Minister of India once said: There is much tomfoolery in the practice of religion.

How very true.

It''s Aidil Adha - or Hari Raya Haji - and millions of Muslims from all over the world, on pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, would have completed the final phase of performing the Haj ritual and qualified to be called a Haji or Hajjah for women.
We, Muslims here in Malaysia, will perform Aidil Adha prayers in our local mosque and I will join in prayer with hundreds of other Muslims in prayer.  It''s a good feeling - the feeling of brotherhood - with all of mankind.
How I wish, all of the peoples of the world, whether with religious faith or not, feel this camaraderie or brotherhood with all of mankind.  The world will be at peace and there will be happiness for everybody.  This is my wish and my dream.  I am 77, what more do I want.

I like this short inspirational article from today's theSun newspaper. This article is written by Bridget Menzies.

Contentment is a virtue often misunderstood.  It is erroneously assumed to be passivity, laziness and meant for those with low levels of motivation and ambition.

In fact, contentment is being mentally and emotionally satisfied, both within and without.

This attitude creates positive feelings of peace,  calm and happiness in the mind, mixed with a certain cheer in one's demeanour.

Developing this virtue, of course takes practice.
There may be aeas of our life that we do not feel completely satisfied with.  Maybe, we deserve more in certain spheres. 
Instead of brooding on the perceived lacunae in our lives, we need to reflect on and consciously appreciate the beauty and goodness of our fortune.
Then we will start experiencing the positive transformation in ourselves, our relationships and work.
Today,  we see many people who have everything they need or want. They are blessed with good education and a loving family; through their hard work they have been able to achieve considerable success.
However, contentment eludes them. They  feel that more success is the means to peace and happiness. So they work harder, putting their shoulders to the wheel and burning the midnight oil.
They get more material success, but end up physically, mentally and emotionally depleted. Their relationship with family and friends also suffers.
The attitude that keeps them from experiencing the bliss of this divine virtue is comparing themselves with others.
Instead, they should enjoy the beauty of everything while maintaining their inner state of contentment.

I am having problems with typing this new blog. As I type, sometimes the cursor suddenly disappears and moved somewhere else, upsetting my previous writing. I wonder why. It can be frustrating when you have to retype again and again. Is this a software problem - I wonder.
The haze problem is getting less and less now, with some rains falling in certain areas. It''s a good feeling when things go back to normal. Even my grandchildren are groaning at the fact  that they have to stay indoors. They are active and healthy and enforced staying indoors is a real strain and made them restless. I can't blame them.

We are now in the midst of severe haze, with the air filled with tiny dust particles as a result of forest burnings.  This is bad for our health and I have to curtail my out door activities and stay indoors. I am also restraining my active grandchildren from going out and play indoors instead.
    

Writing this in the early morning of Tuesday, 7th of September. I am due to be checked again for post-surgery checkup at the hospital. My son will send me to the hospital really felt happy to be alive and now slowly recovering back to normal.  What a great feeling.

Sitting down in contemplation, I think I am blessed having a wonderful, caring wife and children whom I call upon any time for help. All my four children are married and have children of their own.
In total I have 9 grandchildren. I am the proud grandfather and I love and adore all my grandchildren.

I just can't wait till I am fully fit and to be indulging in my love: jogging, playing ping-pong and cycling with my grandchildren. All these activities are on hold for the moment as t;he doctor warns against any physical exertion post-surgey. Ah, well!

Last week has been quite a traumatic experience for me.  I am experiencing a small bulge on the lower part of my abdomen.  I believe this is hernia. I had hernia on the left side 6 years ago and had been operated (surgery) with no problem at all.  So this time when the same phenomena appears again but on the right side, I was not too worried.
However, a week ago, I began to experience extreme pain near the area of the bulge and the pain does not go away even when I pressed the bulge. The next day, the pain became excruciating.  My youngest son, sent me to the hospital and I was examined and was told that I must be operated upon. My name is placed in the queue of those lined up for surgery on that day.  It took another 5 hours before my turn came. I was suffering severe pain all the time.
Finally I was carted into the  Operation Theatre. I was given sedation and duly operated upon.  Three hours later I was wheeled out. I was informed of this by my eldest son who waited outside the operation room.
Later, in the recovery ward, I was told that the operation was successful. Gosh, what a relief. My grateful thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of HTAR (Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah) Klang, who did a marvellous job. Also to my sons, wife who gave unstinted help.

Today is July 30, 2015 and its 7.00 am as I am writing this. Just read about the theraupatic effect of writing  and reading. Hence this. Somehow, one feels good when one writes something: whatever it is. One expreses oneself. Its a kind of indulgence. It feels good.
Another good indulgence is reading. Lots of reading.  And I get my reading fare from the public library not too far away from my place. I consider this to be my mental exercise. The physical exercise is my regular jog and walk. I aim to continue with these indulgences throughout my life. And am already 77 and have 9 grandcchildren. Happiness! What more do I want!